Automated detection and configuration of protocols and ports for device access

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method is disclosed comprising: measuring, by a process, a baseline of port and protocol usage of an accessing device while forwarding to a particular remote device is disabled; measuring, by the process, usage by an accessing application of specific ports and protocols while attempting to connect to the particular remote device while forwarding to the particular remote device is disabled; and causing, by the process, opening of the specific ports and protocols for operation of the accessing application with forwarding enabled to the particular remote device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 measuring, by a process, a baseline of port and protocol usage of an accessing device while forwarding to a particular remote device is disabled;   measuring, by the process, usage by an accessing application of specific ports and protocols while attempting to connect to the particular remote device while forwarding to the particular remote device is disabled; and   causing, by the process, opening of the specific ports and protocols for operation of the accessing application with forwarding enabled to the particular remote device.   
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 disabling forwarding of traffic from the accessing device to the particular remote device.   
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 continuing to measure accessing application usage while connected to the particular remote device while forwarding enabled to the particular remote device;   detecting usage of new ports and protocols by the accessing application; and   determining whether to open the new ports and protocols for operation of the accessing application.   
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 3 , wherein determining whether to open the new ports and protocols comprises:
 prompting a user for acceptance of the new ports and protocols.   
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 confirming that the accessing application can connect to the particular remote device during operation with forwarding enabled to the particular remote device; and   in response, remeasuring accessing application for usage of additional ports and protocols to open.   
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein causing opening of the specific ports and protocols comprises:
 prompting a user for acceptance of the specific ports and protocols.   
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein causing opening of the specific ports and protocols comprises:
 automatically allowing the specific ports and protocols by the process.   
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 enabling forwarding of traffic from the accessing device to the particular remote device for operation of the accessing application.   
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein forwarding to the particular remote device is disabled by an intermediate device within a computer network. 
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein forwarding to the particular remote device is disabled by the accessing device. 
     
     
         11 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 initiating the accessing application after measuring the baseline of port and protocol usage of the accessing device.   
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prompting a user to initiate the accessing application after measuring the baseline of port and protocol usage of the accessing device.   
     
     
         13 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the particular remote device is an internet of things device. 
     
     
         14 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a request to access the particular remote device from the accessing application; and creating a route from the accessing device to the particular remote device in response.   
     
     
         15 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the accessing application is configured to remotely manage the particular remote device. 
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the specific ports and protocols comprise a range of ports. 
     
     
         17 . A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor on a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:
 measuring a baseline of port and protocol usage of an accessing device while forwarding to a particular remote device is disabled;   measuring usage by an accessing application of specific ports and protocols while attempting to connect to the particular remote device while forwarding to the particular remote device is disabled; and   causing opening of the specific ports and protocols for operation of the accessing application with forwarding enabled to the particular remote device.   
     
     
         18 . The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium as in  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:
 continuing to measure accessing application usage while connected to the particular remote device while forwarding enabled to the particular remote device;   detecting usage of new ports and protocols by the accessing application; and   determining whether to open the new ports and protocols for operation of the accessing application.   
     
     
         19 . The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium as in  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:
 confirming that the accessing application can connect to the particular remote device during operation with forwarding enabled to the particular remote device; and   in response, remeasuring accessing application for usage of additional ports and protocols to open.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus, comprising:
 one or more network interfaces to communicate with a network;   a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and configured to execute one or more processes;   a memory configured to store a process that is executable by the processor, the process, when executed, configured to:
 measure a baseline of port and protocol usage of an accessing device while forwarding to a particular remote device is disabled; 
 measure usage by an accessing application of specific ports and protocols while attempting to connect to the particular remote device while forwarding to the particular remote device is disabled; and 
 cause opening of the specific ports and protocols for operation of the accessing application with forwarding enabled to the particular remote device.